View From The Back

WE BRING YOU THIS WEEK’S LATEST TV NEWS Annette Badland 60 SECOND INTERVIEW

As the latest series of Midsomer Murders continues, the former EastEnders actress tells us about playing pathologist Dr Fleur Perkins and her dream guest star…

What do you like about playing Fleur? It’s wonderful to play a woman who’s not young, but has a mind, a sex life, some interesting hobbies and who can give the boys as good as they get!

Tom Hardy

How have the viewers responded? They like that she can put the men in their place and they relish her dry wit. I have noticed on Twitter I am getting a few more male followers, too! Fleur features quite a bit in this week’s story, Miniature Murders… The episode focuses a little more on Fleur as she moves close to the Barnabys, which is a lot of fun. Fleur convinces DCI Barnaby to help her unpack and put up shelves, but he’s not too good at it!

The show is known for its guest stars. Who’s in this episode? Eleanor Bron. I’ve admired her since I was a little girl, as she is just that bit older than I am. She’s intelligent, witty and beautiful. I didn’t have any scenes with her but we did have time to have a laugh together. She’s just terrific.

Who would be your dream guest star? Tom Hardy. Why not? He’s top of my list. Most people are dead by the time I meet them, though, but I’d certainly like to see him on the slab!

✱ Midsomer Murders is on ITV

2007 1979

WHO’S BACK LOOK

Phil Daniels stars in Call The Midwife on BBC1

2020

Phil became a cult figure for his role as Jimmy in the 1979 film Quadrophenia . In EastEnders, between 2006 and 2008, he played Shirley’s exhusband Kevin Wicks, who married Denise, but met a grisly end in a car crash. He also starred in three episodes of BBC1’s Only Fools and Horses prequel, Rock & Chips, playing Del Boy and Rodney's grandad Ted (2010-2011). THEN

In Call the Midwife , Phil plays elderly gentleman George Benson, who’s the proud owner of some racing pigeons. When handyman Fred notices George is coughing up blood, Dr Turner examines him and diagnoses a chest infection. But when the antibiotics he prescribes don’t work, Dr Turner is worried it’s more serious. Could George’s beloved birds be making him sick? NOW

DON’T MISS!

Three shows you really need to make a date for this week…

On The Box

COMING SOON...

What you’ll be watching on TV in the weeks ahead…

THE NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS ITV David Walliams is this year’s host at London’s O2. Things could get a bit awkward, though, because David is up against fellow BGT judge Simon Cowell in the TV Judge category!

CATCH UP

THE WINDERMERE CHILDREN BBC2 This one-off drama tells the true story of a group of young Holocaust survivors who were brought to the UK and sent to the Lake District to recover from their trauma. THE STRANGER Netflix In this adaptation of the novel by Harlan Coben, Richard Armitage stars as lawyer Adam Price, whose life is turned upside down when a stranger reveals a devastating secret about his wife.

If you missed these shows first time around, here’s the best of BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, My5 and more…

MEAT THE FAMILY All 4 Meat-eating families share their homes with animals they would usually eat. After three weeks they must decide whether to give up meat and send their pets to a sanctuary or eat them for dinner! KYLIE MINOGUE’S GOLDEN TOUR All 4 Taking in 33 cities across Europe and Australia last year, you can now watch two hours of Kylie’s amazing Golden Tour which includes many of the singer’s biggest hits. BABY CHIMP RESCUE BBC iPlayer Wildlife vet Jimmy Desmond and his wife Jenny share their home in Liberia, west Africa, with 21 baby chimps who have been rescued from the illegal pet trade.

TRENDING NOW

CORONATION STREET ITV Maria’s heartbroken when she loses her baby and discovers the reason for the miscarriage is because she’s got measles. When Audrey lets slip that Daniel’s son Bertie has had the same infectious illness, it doesn’t take long for Maria to work out where she caught it and Gary’s on the warpath when he discovers that Daniel didn’t get the tot’s jabs done.

BOX SET BINGE

SPINNING OUT Netflix This 10-part drama follows Kat Baker (Kaya Scodelario) a couple of years after her career as a figure skater hit the skids following a fall. When bad boy Justin Davis (Evan Roderick) is in need of a new partner, Kat reluctantly agrees to pair up with him, but the road to achieving their Olympic dream is far from easy… BEAT THE CHASERS ITV This spin-off from hit quiz show The Chase will see brainboxes Anne Hegerty, Mark Labbett, Jenny Ryan, Paul Sinha and Shaun Wallace teaming up to take on contestants playing against them for cash prizes.

MAXXX E4 Supermodel Jourdan Dunn stars in this new comedy which follows former boy band star Maxxx (O-T Fagbenle from The Handmaid’s Tale ) who’s trying to win back his model ex to prove to the world he’s not a washed-up old has-been.

View from THE BACK Sam Carlisle says what you’re thinking

Keep it real, please, Chris!

Millionaire radio presenter Chris Evans’ life

advice misses the mark for us mere mortals

Given up all New Year’s resolutions yet and turned dry January to gin-uary? Fear not, mere mortal, celebrities have their own advice to get you back on the wagon… The fi rst off ering comes from an unlikely source –Chris Evans. Yes, the same Chris Evans who spent much of his 30s falling out of Soho bars and getting through more luxury motors than a James Bond high-octane car chase. That same Chris now claims one of the secrets of a happy life is running fi ve miles to work and fi ve miles home every day. Writing a one-off advice column, he also recommends knocking booze on the head until the weekends and taking time to meditate –even by cleaning the kitchen between 6pm-7pm every evening. He gave up his phone in January 2019. If I gave up my phone, I’d spend so long trying to track down or organise my family, I wouldn’t have two minutes to clean the kitchen, let alone an hour! And if you don’t have a partner, surely only a professional athlete or someone without a job has the time to run 10 miles every day. Chris, whose Virgin Radio deal was worth £2 million, also reckons money isn’t important (remember that when you’re next struggling to pay the gas bill…). Holidays aren’t important to him either –but, confusingly, he says his own happiness depends on having two booked at all times. Chris’ radio show is brilliant, and his enthusiasm to share his new-found calm admirable. But keep it real, mate. When Ricky Gervais told A-list Hollywood stars at the Golden Globe Awards, ‘You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world,’ he had a blooming good point.

IRON MAN! Hero of the week, without a doubt, is Bob Downes. Bob, 63, from Hull, has made no less than 74 blood donations in 20 years. NHS Blood and Transport believes he may have saved as many as 450 newborn babies’ lives with his fantastic contribution. Be like Bob –make that appointment and give blood now. The amount of blood Bob has donated is heroic

PHOTOS: INSTAGRAM @ADELE, NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT, PA IMAGES Rumour has it… How incredible were the pics of Adele on holiday? Her trainer told reporters she doesn’t like exercise much, which makes her weight loss all the more remarkable. Don’t overdo it, though, lovely. You were beautiful as you were – someone like you, but bigger. EACH OF US SECRETLY THINKS Quote of the week Adele has reportedly lost 7st in weight

WE’RE THE ONE

WHO GOT LUCKY’

Greg James’ wife Bella says the

most romantic thing ever.

Egg-chic Segway reckons its S-Pod mobile, egg-shaped chair is the future of travel. It has one thing going for it –you look so ridiculous driving one, it’s never going to get stolen.

travel offers

BOOK YOUR 2020 HOLIDAY DESTINATION NOW

Bruges

Departures from March to December 2020. Price includes:

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✱ Comprehensive sightseeing

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✱ Visit picturesque Montmartre,

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✱ Return rail connections

available on selected dates

from over 50 regional stations (supplements may apply)

✱ Return standard class reserved

seat on Eurostar from London St Pancras International, plus all hotel transfers

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Krakow

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✱ The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout ✱ Departures available exclusively for solo travellers